Cultivator



L. H. KAUPKE.

cuLTlvAToR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27.1917.

`Patenud Aug. 9, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l [zwaai/h ad //T//Z///f L. H. KAUPKE.

CULTIVATOR.

APPLlcAUoN FILED JuLY 27. 1917.

1,387,405. Patentd g. 9,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Zeg F54 fa @va 'MWQ' dwm/ L. H.` KAUPKE.

CULTIVATOR.

IAPPLICATION FILED JULY 27 |917.

, L 2 9.,.3 1 n am M m m 5 m D..

N N www n w Nw 5 w m e w, s, SM@ l Illinois,

` LEI.:k

H. KAUPKE, or Bocx'rsLnNn, ILLINoIsnssreNon rro nocxisnaivnrrow COMPANY, or Rocx ISLAND; ILLINoIs,Afconrona'rroiv or 1rnrvrnors.

cULrIvA'ron.

i l Application' led J'u1y727,

To all whom it may concern." A

Be it'known that I, LEE H. KAUPKE, a

ycitizen of the United States of America, and

resident of Rock Island, Rock Island county,

have invented [a certain new an useful Improvement in Cultivators, of which the following is a specification. n

My invention relates to improvements in cultivators, and myinvention concerns more particularly the cultivators of. the socalled two-row type. y .v The object of Inyinvention is to provide an improvedstructure ofthis `type which will be simple, durable and; reliable in con-V struction, and effective andV eiiicient linopera-V tion.

Other objects-of hereinafter. Y

My-'invention consists Ain the features of novelty exemplied by the a construction, combination and arrangementof parts herein described, shown4 in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly set forth inn the appended claims. Y c

Referring to Vthe accompanying draw-` ings y Figure 1 is a View 'in side elevation'of an improved cultivator embodying -my invention; A. :f

Fig. 2 is a top planof said structure; v Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical staggered section substantially on the line 3-.3 of

my invention will app-'ear Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical longitudinal sec' tion on the partially indicated staggered-,vy

section line 4 4 of Fig. 2; f .c

Fig. 5 isa detail planview of the portion embraced by the line 5-#5 of Fig. V4:;

Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6 6? ofFigxfi; f "f Fig. 7 Y 's a detail section onjthe line 7 of Fig.2; n

Fig. 8 is a detail planview on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;`

Fig. 9 is a detail "section on the line 9-.-9v of,l*`ig.7.` Y v. .Thestructure shown in the drawings has a horizontally disposed frame whichingen- Y eral, comprises 5 O an axle l', a I forward, transverse bar 2, and the four longitudinal braces 3; The axle comprises two fiat parallel bars' y set on edgefor strength and 'extendingentirely across the macine. spaced slightlyl apartk and rigidly Afastened by bolts and,y suitable spacersk at intervals.

. ward beam,

inga part of the.A beam, These bars are Specification of Letters Patent. 9,

1917.i serial No. 183,154.

tical bearing castings Llawhich support 'the At the endsl these axle vbars: vare boltedfto verwheel axles,l `The-forward beam 2 is paral lel with the axle and is tiedfto'the laxle by dl the four braces 3 which are fastened thereto.

Between` the,y two `outerwbraces on ,each sidek of the vframeis a poleor tongue which ex.v

tends forward from the machine,ltheffull proportionate` length: not being yshown.4r These ,tonguesare disposeihto' providejfor three horses, this structure beingof, the type which n* employs three horses 'fon' draftgpurk poses,

are fasteneohto. the axle and` for-lA he tongues and-..in addition.. thel two-4 adj aand the-tongues *are-spaced iapart roperly to accommodatefthe vcenter,.hors/e5,` Y zo cent braces aref extended diagonally forward f to the tonguesV andserve as ,braces therefor.V

This structure provides any. exceedingly strong, yet Llight weight,l i frame l capable j of` withstanding, the 1 various stresses andw'disf tortingforces to which it is subjected. if

The entire' structure' is supported bythe large vwheels V6- whichA are mounted. onfL-` shaped .axle members? ,3 the .,vvheels being journaled on Ithe horizontal portions andthe vertical portions -beingjournaled in the vertical castingsA 4L `so that the wheelscmayabe, turned on verticalsaxcs forthe purpose of` steering the implement 'through thefield,asl vhereinafter explained. f

The operator isprovided seat.V

positioned considerably in therear of the main axle, so'that theweight of the oper.- ator will, to some extent, counterbalan'ce the weight of the poles'and partsof-the ma-y chine forwardiof-.said axle, and thus relieve? the horses ofthis overhanging weight. This` seat Vis mounted ongrearwardly. extending bars 9 bolted to the two inner braces 3. c yThe seaty is far enoughl to the rear so that the operator .has aclear forward view: of the, crop he is tending-and all-operating`Vv parts andl still permitready access to tthe various operatingjflevers.A v .n

The cultivator gang'sjmay be of any-suitable type for'tlreYpu-rpose.-` In Ithe machine, they comprise in general the Vbeams'10 each having al pluralityoflcultivator shovels 11 secured thereto and y depending therefrom. An additional supportingmember 112, lformris provided, 2nd,'. togetherwith the rear end of the beam,is formed sothat the shovels' are staggered to position them properlywith respect to the` laterals and rows to be cultivated. This structure,.being.

a two-row cultivator, has the gangs arranged 1n sets or pairs spaced apart and pivotally mounted at their forward ends on the lateral ward ends of the beams have yoke 'castings l0a and the forked ends of the yokes are split to embrace the laterals of the arches and are held together by bolts on said laterals, which permit the taking up of the wear.'

By means of this'constru'ction, the spacebetween the adjusted to suit particular operating conditions. TheV arches are comparativelyfhigh so as not to interfere' with the corn being cultivated. The beamsjare suspended from the forward frame bar 2 by means of links 14a which are pivoted at their upper ends to the frame bar, andat their vlower ends `to collars 14h which are fastened on the arch positioned in the yoke castings at the ends of the beams, wherebythe sets of gangs maybe swung laterally to vary the distance between the setsas desired. vIn order, however, to provide draft connections between the gangs andthe frame, I'provide inclined Y braces l5 therebetween. These braces at their lower ends are pivotally con-V nected t0 the collars 14" and at their upper ends to brackets 16 which are boltedto the,

The arches are maintained in main axle l.. uprightposition by linkslwhiclifare pivotally connected to `the laxle bar members andl to the upper portions Vofsaid 'arches so as to adapt themselves to thevlateral adjust-` ment of the gangs. ticulated structure` reason of the braces,transmits uthe draft power from the frame-to the cultivators,

`Thus a completely arand still permits the ,various adjustments for which the structure is designed.

The horizontal portions of thepivoted axles have forwardly and upwardly extend!V ing arms 2l rigidlyfastened thereto, and these arms are connected at theirl forward ends by a steering bar 22 extending from one arm to the other across and pivotally connected so that the supporting wheels may be turned invunison upon their vertical axes for steering purposes.` At thecenter of the structure is a longitudinally disposed horizontally swinging arm :or lever' 23, which is pivoted at its rear end 'on a bracket casting 24, (see Figs. 7. 8 and 9), thelbracket being firmly fastened to the axle 1 bv means of bolt 25. The forward end of said lever swings in a A horizontal guideway or slotv formed between the lforward frame bar f2 and a strap 26 bolted on said bar.

which register with a 'hole in the when the lever is in central position, and

gangs of the set or pair maybe is provided which b v able to not Through the strap 26 and frame bar arealined 'holesv` lever 23V ylever 23 also passes through'a vsloti'ormed between ythe steering bar 22 and a short strap 28 bolted'y thereon, which slot permits move-` ment of the lever 23 independently of the steering bar 22. The

p lever 23, however, can be locked to the steering bar 22 in a straightahead position ofthe wheels by means of a removable pin'29 which is arranged to be inserted into alined central holes in' the strap 2S, steering bar 22` and lever 23. Y y The steering operation is accomplished by means of vertically swinging foot-levers 30 which are positioned properlyV for the operators 'feet and which are provided-with convenient foot-pieces 31. These levers`extend substantially horizontally rearwardly, but they are 'pivoted at 32 to the bracket 24 and haveshort upstanding arms 33 so as to form bell cranks. Thevupstanding short 'arms 33 l `ofV` these foot-levers act against va short horizontally` disposed cam lever34f, 'which ca m lever'is centrally pivote-d `upon the bracket 24C' by :meansof a bolt 35. Thus a vertical vmovement of thefoot-levers is converted v'into `a horizontal movement of the cam lever 34. -This cam y lever lhas 'a forwardlyextending arm 36 whichfis pivotally connectedto a short link 37, which `in turn is pivotally connecte'dby means of the'bol-tBS to thesteering bar 22., Thusit will beobserved that when the pin 29 is removed, the operatorV is'enabled to steer thesupporting wheelsbyoperating the foot-levers, and ing can be performed independently-of theA y gangs. It isdesirable, however,-under certain conditions that 'the Voperator Vshall be onlyfsteer the wheels, but to simultaneously shift orswing the gangs horizontally as a wholeand in the direction in'which theV implement issteered." For thisV purpose, 'I connect the arch of each set of gangs to the lever 23 by means Thelinks 4L0`are`ipivotally connected at their outer ends 'to'y the arches. and at their inner ends to 4-the lever 4l. The lever 4l is centrally ,pivoted at l2to the/lever y Thus, whenever theV lever 23is swung horizontally, the two sets of gangs" willi be swung klaterally in unison. Now,VV when :the operator desires tok turn the wheels for steering purposes, and simultaneouslyv shiftf the gangs laterally, he simply locks thelever 23 andftlie' steering means of the pin 29 ashereinbefore described, and any `movement of the foot-` levers` will be transmitted to beth the steering wheels andto'the gangs. But ashere'- inbefore mentioned,V 'when the Vlever v23 and steering bar. ,22, are unlocked;the operator may `steerthewheels independently of the gangs. *Insuchf event, the gangs'should be l0() this 'operation vofV steertbar 22 togetheriby- 110A of the pivoted links 40 andithe lever 4l.'

maintained in a `straight-aheadfposition,

and this is accomplished by' simply locking" the lever 23 to the forwa'rdi frame bar 2 by means of the l0ckingpin27. By insertingV yboth pins in their respective places, the

wheels and gangs can be lockedin position whenfthe machineis to betransported from place to place. with a lever 45 which is ypivotedupon ya plate or bracket 46 suitably-fastenedto lever 234 and pivoted to the frame axle 1, and positionedjust in the rear ofthe bracket 24.

Thislever is pivotally connected Aby a link.

47 to" ashortarm 48 on the lever '41, so that theoperation of ythe lever 45vw'illrotate thelever 41 to shift the sets'or pairs of gangs relatively lto each other, and thereby vary the space between the sets of gangs toradapt the machine to various operating conditions, this adjustment kof the sets of gangs being independent of the lateral shifting of the gangs as a whole.' This adjusting lever is arranged to `be lockedrin its relatively adjustedA position by a toothed.

quadrant49 and a latch 50 adapted to engage the notchesgin theA quadrant. The quadrant 49 is ixedon the bracket 46 which supports the manual lever, and thelatch is'VV mounted on the lever andv is adapted to Vbe actuated bythe grip trigger lithrough the medium of the link -52. This relative adjustment of the sets of gangs is, as before arms 59 which-are pivotally connected to the upper ends of suspension links 60 for the outer gangs. The lower ends of these'suspension `links are pivotally connected to the beams 10 of the outer gangs, and the manual levers 55 are fastened to the shafts 57 so that byrotation of thelevers 55 the outer gangs may be individually raised and lowered with respect tothe ground. fThe innerflevers 56 arej rotatably mounted on the lends fof the shafts 57 and have forwardly extending arms 61 which are likewise pivotally connected tovv the vupper ends 'of suspension links or rods` 60, likewise pivotally connected to thetwo inner gangfbeams 1Q, whereby the operation of the levers 56 will lraise and lower the inner gangs independently fof each other and of the outer gangs. 4

.Thisfconstruction provides foi` the Jraisingv andlowering of each of the individual gangs, independently of the other gangs,{for

the purposes of adjustment of theworking depth and level.k However, the "gangs'can The operator is y providedy be ieiad'irftheir individaauy adjusted positions by means of the notched quadrants 62 and 63 and the triggerlatches 64 carried byf each of the --leversfand adapted to "engage the notches in the quadrants. "-The quadrants of each pair are positioned close together and i are journaled loosely on the respectiveshafts 57 lThey are, however, rigidly fastenedto-1 gether by means of the bolts 65 making? inf electa singlemember. Bothquadrants lof eachpair have elongated "slots 66 in which kthe rollers .67 (Figs. 4, and 6), travel, and

these rollers are mounted on the' sh'ortshafts 68 carried by the inverted V-shaped archesor links 69. A heavyspringGQa is connected anchored to the framebeam or bar 2by means of the eye-bolt 70 and nut 71 adjust- .able thereon, so that the tension of4 the spring-may be regulated to suit the particular requirements of the mechanism; The quadrants haveI stop-shoulders@ and" which abut against thefaxle bars 1, and thus determine the range ofmovement of the quadrants. The springs are anchored on av -'horizontal'linefthrough the pivotal centersof the quadrants and levers, and when the f quadrants andlevers are rotated in either directionrsutiiciently to vcarry the rollers past the pivotal centers in eitherfdirectionfthe springs act to instantly shift'therollersto the end of the slots in the quadrants, and the springs then act to assistthe raising or lowering' of the gangs as the casemay be. Byj providing this shifting connection between the spring-actuated arched links and the quadrants,` the springs are` instantly given amore effective leverage to assist in the raising and lowering operations,thus relieving the'operator of all the work except the slight amount required to move the pivotalconnectionpast center.- Furthermore, the springs act tomaintainfthe gangs kin either raised or lowered position after they have been shifted. Thus during-the course of operat-l ing the machine through theviield, the operator lis enabled to quickly raise and lower the gangs, oreither pair ofthem,'as operating conditions require, by operating keither of theha'nd-levers of either orboth pairs. Fur- .tor the end of eachlof these arch links and is thermore, these operations .are accomplished without disturbing the depth and level adjustments of the gangs. When lowered, the

gangs will always return to their previously adjusted conditions. "These adjustmentsare obtained, as before 'explainechlby simply unlatching the' individual levers `from the quadrants andf'againf'locking thernfin their ad-' justed positions.y yf f In astructure yof thisicharacter, there'fis considerable weight forward of the wheel! axlesjwhich cannot be entirely counter-'balanced bvthe weight of vthe operator iirfjthe rear of the axle-and, furthermore, thiscounterbalancingweight varies 4with the varying weights of different operators. I provide al pendant hitch for the horses which will operate to lift thisforward preponderance of weight and relieve the horses4 necks thereof. I provide a pair of equalizer levers which are pivoted at 76 to the outer longitudinal frame braces 3. The inner ends ofthe longer arms `of these levers are connected together by the pivotal links 77 and connecting link 78; A central pendant link 79 is pivotally connected to the connecting link 78 at its upper end, and at itslower end to an inclined central draft link 80. The rear end of this draft link is fastened to the axle l of the frame. equalizer levers are pivotally connected to outer pendant links 8l, and the lower ends of these pendant links are pivotally connected to inclined outer draft links `82. The rear ends of the latter links are fastened to the axle bearinV castings 4C. The swinefle-v trees for the three horses have draft hooks 86 by which they are connected to the structure, the swingletrees for the two outer horses Abeing-connected to the outer pendant links, and that for the center horsev being connected lto the central pendant links. These pendant links all have a vertical series of holes S7 for the draft hooks, so that the hitches may be adjusted to suit conditions.`

Thus, by this simple articulated structure, the power of the draft animals is applied to points whichare comparatively low and the tendency is to lift the forward part of the implement, -aiid relieve the necks of the horses of this weight, at the same time the draft is equalized among the three horses.

I claim:

1. In a cultivator, a frame, aii axle, supporting wheels mounted thereon, a transversely extending steering bar-connecting said wheels, foot-lever mechanism foil `moving said steering bar to angle said wheels` cultivator gangs mounted on said frame, a longitudinally extending `arm mounted at its rear end on said axle and connected near its forward end to said cultivator gangs. means intermediate of said connections for connecting said longitudinal member to said steering bar, whereby said wheels may be angled and said vgangs swung laterally simultane-` ously, and means for connecting the forf ward end of said longitudinal member to said frame to thereby lock said wheels an gangs in a straight-aheadposition.

2. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame and wheels supporting said frame, av plurality of cultivator gangs pivotally sup-` ported by said frame to be raisedand lowered, levers individual to the gangs for adjusting the gangs for working deptlnineans connecting the levers for lifting the gangs in pairs independent of saiddepth adjust` ment, a member having a shifting connection with said connecting means, an'djspring The shorter outer arms of they mechanism,` connected between said member and the frame for assisting inthe raising and lowering voperations of thegpairs of gangs.`

3. In aV cultivator, the combination of; a`

rotary quadrants common `to the levers in.

pairs andfadaptedto be locked to the levers Vto raise and lower the gangs in pairs, by the actuation of either of the levers ofthe pair, and a vspring attached yto the frame and havingl a shifting connection vwith the quadrants of, each pair, said connection being adaptedto shift when moved past the center of rotation j of said quadranti to assist the movement lof said quadrants in the particularidirectionin which it is rotated. i

4. In a cultivator, the combination `of a supportingf'frame and wheels therefor, av

plurality `of cultivator gangs pivoted on the 'frame for verticalwmovement, a lever for raising and lowering each gang, `pivoted on saidframe, a quadrantfor each lever rotatable on the frame, means` for rlocking the leverv in adjusted relation tothe quadrant,

meanscoiinecting the quadrants in pairs so that the actuation of either lever of the pair will raise and lower the corresponding pair j of gangs, a member having a slot connectionv with vthe quadrants ofv eachv pair, and a spring `alined with the ycenterof rotation of the quadrants and connected to said member to shift the connection in. theslot when moved past the centerof rotationof said quadrants in. either direction; f

5. In a cultivator," a frame, supporting' wheels therefor, a pair of vertically'movable cultivator gangs supported by said frame, a shaft, connections from said shaft4 to one of said gangs, whereby ,rotation Vof said sliaftcauses said gangs to be raised,.al hand lever rigidly mounted on said shaft for rotating the same, a toothed rack ymounted adjacent said haiidilever and loosely mounted upon 'said'shaft, asecondhand lever loosely mounted upon said shaft andconnections from said secondlever to said gang for tive toothed rack, whereby said hand levers` can beheld `in adjusted' position, andspring means for shifting the position, of said toothed "racks to` thereby vsimultaneously raise :said disk gangsysaid spring meansV operating to hold saidv gangs in their raised` position.

6.Iny aucultivator, afframe, supporting raising the same,a second toothed rack asso- 5,

rotating the wheels therefor, a pair of vertically movlable eultivator gangs supported by said frame, a shaft, connections from said shaft handlever rigidly mounted on said shaft for same, a toothed rack mounted adjacent said hand lever and loosely mounted upon said shaft, a second hand lever loosely mounted upon said shaft, and oonnections :trom said second lever to said gang for raising the same, a second toothed rack associated with said second lever and loosely mounted upon said shatt, said racks being rigidly connected together, a spring tooth 'for each hand lever for engaging therespective toothed rack, whereby said hand levers can spring means normally holding said rack in position to maintain said cultivator gangs in their `lowered position, and means controlled by either yof 'said `handlevers for,

whereby it opershiting said spring means,

be heldV in adjusted position kvatesto rotate said racks to raise said cult-ivator gangs, said spring means `then operating to hold saidgangs in raised position. 7. In a oultivator, a supporting'frame, an axle, ground wheels mounted thereon, a transversely extendin' nected with said wheeis, means for moving said bar longitudinally in .order to angle said `wheels, cultivator gangs pivotally mounted on said `frame, a longitudinally eX- tending arm pivoted at its rear end to said frame, a memberpivotally mounted on said bar, connections from said member to said gangs,` means 'for rotating said member to therebymove said gangs laterally with respect tov each other, and means for connecting said member and arm toV said steering barl whereby movement of said steering bar swings the oultivator gangs laterally of the line. of draft.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, the 14 day of July, 1917. v j LEE H. KAUPKE.

steering bar eon-V 

